Sumerian and Semitic Religious and Historical Texts

flanked, at least on the two sides adjacent to the temple, by a row of chambers connected by a corridor. Southwest of the ziggurat, a few literary tablets have been recovered, which excites the hope that the temple library may possibly come to light soon. That is, however, at the time of writing, only a prospect. The older and larger ruins two miles east of the temple mound have not yet been searched. Assyriologists and historians in all lands will surely respond with gratitude to the generosity of those who have undertaken the heavy and ofttimes thankless task of solving one of the most important problems connected with the history of ancient times. The writer, who undertook to direct this expedition and to edit its philological and historical results, has added a burden of great responsibility to his other duties, which were already sufficient for the work of one man.

The contents of the first volume of this series are somewhat miscellaneous; this is due to the editor’s desire to edit the principal texts brought to the Ashmolean Museum by Mr. Weld-Blundell in 1921–22. Volume II, which shall appear almost immediately, contains the large dynastic prism purchased in 1922 and other historical inscriptions. The cost of the printing of the series is sustained at present entirely by the same patron of the university.

Oxford, Nov. 7, 1923.

S. LANGDON.